Working outdoors means dealing with exposure to the elements, which can be hard on the skin. Even wearing sun protection and an outdoor work suit all day long, it’s still possible to come home with dry, flaking, or even cracked skin.

1. Bring Hand-Wipes to Work With You

Maybe you’re outside with a client or on a team-building workshop with co-workers. Maybe you’re trying to get ahead on the latest project with your team members. Or maybe you’re just on your way to do some outside cleaning. Keeping hand wipes in your backpack or work bag is a great way to keep your hands clean without worrying about water. You’re also less likely to pick up any germs on your hands. Keeping hand wipes is a must if you work outside with your hands, like gardening or landscaping. You don’t want to get dirt and grime under your nails and skin, especially if you’re growing plants and don’t want to bring any harmful bacteria or fungus home.

2. Don’t Forget The Sunscreen

Even if you’re working indoors, you should wear sunscreen daily. It’s easy to forget when you’re not out in the sun, but the sun’s rays can still penetrate the windows in your office building. When working outside, you likely sweat during your workday and want to ensure that your skin stays protected. It would help if you used at least one ounce of sunscreen every two hours.

3. Drink Lots of Water

It’s easy to forget to hydrate when you’re busy at work, and the water fountain is just a few feet away from you. When you’re working outside, you’re also more likely to be dehydrated because your body is working harder and sweating more. Working outside, you want to ensure that you drink lots of water to stay hydrated and avoid getting sick. You can also sneak in some extra veggies by adding a bit of freshly chopped veggies to your water. It’ll give it some flavor and make it more delicious to drink.

4. Limit The Number of Products

Working outside means being exposed to a lot of elements, including dust. You’re likely to get dusty, even wearing a work suit, whenever you’re building something. You don’t want to add to your skin’s exposure to those elements by applying different products to your face, body, hands, and feet. Instead of piling on a dozen different products, you’re better off sticking to just a few. You might want to use a cleanser and facial moisturizer for your face. For your body, use a body wash and moisturizer. For your hands, use hand soap and moisturizer.

Working outside is hard on the body in many different ways, including the skin. It’s even more important to be mindful of your skin when working outside because you’re more likely to get sunburned, dehydrated, and windburned. Follow these tips for taking care of your skin when working outdoors, and your skin will thank you.